Description
Increased penalties for readmissions imposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have encouraged healthcare providers to reduce the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs). Yet the problem persists. In a recent SSI document, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that advances have been made in infection control practices, but says, “SSIs remain a substantial cause of morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and death. SSI is associated with a mortality rate of 3%, and 75% of SSI associated deaths are directly attributable to the SSI.”
Surgical services leaders need to stay abreast of this kind of research and monitor practices in the OR as well as the sterile processing department. This special report has been carefully compiled to help them do just that, with articles on infection prevention protocols, instrument packaging and sterilization methods, and guidelines to help pass survey inspections. The expert advice and best practices in this report reflect important strategies to combat SSIs and increase the safety of patients and staff.
The table of contents includes:
- Tool assesses SSI risk in spine patients
- Low-temperature sterilization: A disinfection alternative
- Risk assessment and remedial action required to curb infections
- Specific care bundles successfully cut surgical site infection rates
- Infection control noncompliance cited in high percentage of Joint Commission surveys
- ‘Operation Zero’ targets surgical site infections
- Are you on target for meeting SSI, SCIP metrics?
- And more!
Format: Downloadable PDF
